Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez named a starting quarterback Monday, but the coach is not fully committing to him.

“Anu Solomon will be the starter Friday night,” Rodriguez said during his first weekly news conference of the season. “That doesn’t mean that he plays the whole game and that he will be the starter the rest of the season. But I also don’t want any quarterback to ever go in thinking as soon as I make a mistake I’m coming out.”

While Rodriguez didn’t fully commit to Solomon, the redshirt freshman shouldn’t worry. Rodriguez waited even longer to name B.J. Denker his starting quarterback last year, and the senior started every game for the Wildcats.

“I’m confident that Anu will play well, and he will be the starter as long as he plays well and we win,” Rodriguez says.

Rodriguez likes to manufacture an edge for his quarterbacks. By not guaranteeing them a spot, they are expected to respond positively to the challenge. If they don’t, the backup quarterbacks believe they will get a legitimate chance to play and earn the starting spot.

Solomon rising to the top of Arizona’s depth chart is an impressive feat. The young signal caller had to beat out USC transfer Jesse Scroggins, LSU transfer Jerrard Randall and Texas transfer Connor Brewer.

“The coaches, and myself particularly, felt that he was playing the best out of all four quarterbacks,” Rodriguez said. “I think he’s got a good feel for the game and I want to make it clear it’s not like he did this thing and these other guys didn’t. I just think he did more things better on a consistent basis for him to start.”

The added benefit of naming Solomon the Wildcats’ starting quarterback is having a young player behind center to develop over the next four seasons. Rodriguez had a pair of seniors behind center during his first two seasons at the helm of the program. Solomon is the present and future of Arizona football.

1. Oregon (Last year: 11-2; beat Texas at Alamo Bowl)The Ducks have been on the cusp of elite status as a program for the past four seasons. It’s time for the program to get over the hump and win a national title. This year’s squad may have the best chance to capture the school’s first national championship. It all starts with the quarterback position. Marcus Mariota is the best signal caller currently playing collegiate football. Yes, that includes Florida State’s Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston. Mariota may have hoisted the trophy last year if he didn’t suffer a knee injury late in the season which hampered his style of play. Mariota is extremely efficient as a passer, highly intelligent with his decision-making and a deadly athlete when he decides to run with the football. The Ducks also return key starters at vital positions. Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and center Hroniss Grasu may have been the top players selected at their position in May’s NFL draft. Yet, they decided to return to Eugene. The team’s leading rusher (Byron Marshall), tackler (Derrick Malone) and sack artist (Tony Washington) return as well. As Mark Helfrich enters his second year as head coach, there aren’t any excuses for the Ducks this season. It’s a national championship or bust. This is the year for Oregon to prove its more than a flashy offense and uniform trendsetters.

2. Stanford (Last year: 11-3; lost to Michigan State in Rose Bowl)Cardinal faithful will almost certainly remind anyone who will listen that their team beat Oregon the past two seasons and claimed Pac-12 conference titles. However, the Cardinal simply aren’t as talented from top to bottom as the Ducks. The key players Oregon retained; the Cardinal lost. The team lost it’s leading rusher, tackler, sack artist and four of its starting offensive linemen. While Senior quarterback Kevin Hogan may be entering his second full season as the team’s starter, he’s a notch below the elite quarterbacks in the Pac-12 conference.David Shaw is one of the best coaches in college football. This team will continue it’s winning ways. But Stanford will likely take a slight step backwards as the Ducks reclaim the honor as the best team in the Pac-12 Conference.

3. Oregon State (Last year: 7-6; beat Boise State in Hawai’i Bowl)College football’s leading-returning passer resides in Corvallis, Oregon. Quarterback Sean Mannion returns for his senior campaign after throwing for 4,662 yards and 37 touchdowns. But Mannion won’t have Biletnikoff Trophy winner Brandin Cooks to throw to anymore. And that ‘s a good thing. Mannion’s experience behind center is a major positive for the Beavers, but Oregon State head coach Mike Riley admitted the coaching staff became enamored with throwing the football due to their dynamic duo at quarterback and wide receiver. This season, the Beavers will be more balanced on offense and more closely resemble the team that went 9-4 in 2012 instead of the one that was 7-6 last season. Senior Terran Ward and junior Storm Woods combined for 1,060 rushing yards last season. They should receive bigger workloads. With a more balanced attack, the Beavers hope to avoid another five-game losing streak in Pac-12 play. The team seen during its 38-23 victory over Boise State in the Hawai’i Bowl is the one Pac-12 opponents should expect to face Saturdays this fall.

4. Washington (Last year: 9-4; beat BYU in Fight Hunger Bowl)The University of Washington did the impossible; they pried Chris Petersen out of Boise and made him their new head coach. Petersen inherits a talented roster built slowly over time by previous head coach Steve Sarkisian. After three straight 7-6 seasons, the Huskies finally broke through with an 9-4 campaign in 2013. The team then lost it’s head coach, quarterback and workhorse running back. Change of that degree will likely cause the Huskies to take a small step back during the upcoming season. While Peterson was ultra-successful during his eight seasons at Boise State, his team stumbled last year and lost four games for the first time in eight years. The last coach to have that type of success at Boise then finish with a four-loss team before moving to the Pac-12 was Dan Hawkins. Furthermore, there are still questions at quarterback for the Huskies. Cyler Miles hasn’t shown he’s ready to take over the team. Until one of the quarterbacks does, the Huskies will have to rely on a talented defense, particularly a defensive line that features nose tackle Danny Shelton and defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha.

5. Washington State (Last year: 6-7; lost to Colorado State in New Mexico Bowl)This will be Mike Leach‘s third year in Pullman, Washington. It was in Leach’s third year at Texas Tech he was able to lead the Red Raiders to a nine-win season. He won’t be as lucky with the Cougars. It’s taken Leach some time to implement the “Air Raid” offense that far north. This should be the first season in which it’s fully functional with senior Connor Halliday as the trigger-man behind center. However, the team’s defense struggled mightily in 2013 and finished 102nd overall. Leach’s run at Texas Tech was special, because he could out-scheme nearly everyone in the Big 12. But he could always rely on the talent he recruited in the state of Texas. The state of Washington doesn’t present the same level of talent. In three recruiting classes, only one former four-star recruit, wide receiver Gabe Marks, is expected to contribute for the Cougars this season. And that talent disparity will keep Wazzu toward the bottom of the Pac-12.

6. Cal (Last year: 1-11)The hiring of Sonny Dykes as Cal’s head coach was an absolute disaster. The Golden Bears finished 1-11. They didn’t play any defense whatsoever. Players were leaving the program as soon as possible once the season ended. The only expectation for the team this season is to improve on last year’s record and actually win a conference game. Cal should be able to move the ball in Dykes’ version of the “Air Raid” offense. Quarterback Jared Goff enters his second season as starter after he put together a solid season as a true freshman. Plus, four of Goff’s top five receivers return. The Golden Bears will be able to throw the football, but the question is whether or not the defense will be able to stop anyone. History says no. Art Kaufman was hired as the team’s defensive coordinator this off season, and he has an uphill battle in front of him. Even when Dykes led Louisiana Tech to a 9-3 record, a national ranking and nearly defeated a Texas A&M team led by Johnny Manziel, the Bulldogs were the worst defensive team in college football. Dykes’ emphasis falls on the offensive side of the ball, and that is not going to change. It’s only a matter of time before Cal is looking for another head coach once the school’s new athletic director is named.

PAC-12 SOUTH

1. UCLA (Last year: 10-3; beat Virginia Tech in Sun Bowl)Expectations are sky high at UCLA. And they should be. In two short years, Jim Mora has completely rebuilt the culture in Westwood. Plus, the Bruins are fortunate to have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Brett Hundley. If Hundley declared for the NFL draft this year, he would have been a first-round selection. He’s projected to be a Top 10 pick for next May. The quarterback is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to talent on this roster. Senior Jordan James and sophomore Paul Perkins return in the backfield after combining for 1,107 rushing yards in 2013. Devin Fuller is a dynamic play maker out of the slot. And the defense may be even more talented. The two-way superstar Myles Jacks is one of college football’s top linebackers and a pretty good running back too. Erik Kendricks is highly instinctive and a tackling machine. Sophomores Kenny Clark and Eddie Vanderdoes will be one year better and impossible to move along the defensive interior. And the secondary is experienced with Anthony Jefferson and Ishmael Adams returning. The No. 1 one goal for the Bruins will be to claim a Pac-12 championship, but this team has legitimate national championship potential. They simply have to get past Oregon and Stanford to prove they’re worthy of a berth in the College Football Playoff.

2. USC (Last year: 10-4; beat Fresno State in Las Vegas Bowl)It’s hard to maintain momentum from one season to another. Although, USC appeared to regain its confidence and swagger as a program when it won six of its last seven games under the direction of interim head coach Ed Oregeron. Despite the team’s late season success, Oregeron wasn’t hired to become the team’s permanent head coach. Enter Steve Sarkisian, a former co-offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll. Despite sub-par seasons by USC’s standards in recent years, the team has two things in its favor. First, the talent from the top of the roster to the bottom is always among the best in college football. Second, the team’s depth will continue to improve as the bottom of the roster is rebuilt after being previously hamstrung by NCAA sanctions. The Trojans will be led by a strong defense which features the potential No. 1 overall pick in May’s NFL draft, defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The unit finished 13th overall in total defense last season. The offense, meanwhile, will continue to grow under the direction of offensive coordinator Clay Helton and junior quarterback Cody Kessler. The offense played at a much higher level once Lane Kiffin was fired and Helton became the primary play-caller. It was a smart decision by Sarkisian to retain Helton on his staff. All the pieces are in place for the Trojans to become a factor in the Pac-12 again. USC faithful has to hope Sarkisian was the right hire to keep them in the national conversation.

3. Arizona State (Last year: 10-4; lost to Texas Tech in Holiday Bowl)Since the Pac-12 South is generally considered the weaker division in the conference, it’s been somewhat overlooked that the Sun Devils played in the league’s championship game last year. Head coach Todd Graham has built a team that is known for its fast-pace offense and aggressive defense. In fact, Arizona State features the best quarterback-wide receiver tandem in the Pac-12 with Taylor Kelly behind center and Jaelen Strong creating mismatches for defenses. Kelly, in particular, has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the Pac-12 the past two seasons. And running back D.J. Foster is a dangerous weapon out of the backfield. Arizona State may even be able to challenge UCLA and USC atop the Pac-12 South, but the team’s previously devastating defensive front is being completely rebuilt. The team lost it’s top tackler, sack artist and two-time Pac-12 Defense Player of the Year Will Sutton to the NFL. Graham will continue to blitz every chance he gets, but he no longer has the talent to win individual match-ups on a regular basis. The offense will score points, but the defense will have trouble stopping anyone.

4. Arizona (Last year: 8-5; beat Boston College in AdvoCare V100 Bowl)Is the year the Wildcats are ready to take the next step under head coach Rich Rodriguez? During his first two seasons with the program, Arizona finished with an 8-5 record. The problem with Rodriguez is the passing game and defense suffer from the coach’s insistence to implement his offensive scheme, which is a zone-read heavy. The x-factor this season will be whomever Rodriguez’s names as his starting quarterback. Last season, B.J. Denker didn’t provide any consistency throwing the football. It will either be redshirt freshman Anu Solomon or senior transfer Jesse Scroggins which takes over the offense. Solomon reportedly has a slight lead in the competition during fall camp. These two will have to be better dual-threats out of the backfield than Denker was. And the defense has to be better after surrendering 401.1 yards per game last season. If these two things happen, the Wildcats will finish higher in the standings than CFT currently projects. But, it’s unlikely.

5. Colorado (Last year: 4-8)A 4-8 record for any other program would be a disappointment. Colorado, however, isn’t just any program. It’s a school that went through an ugly divorce with previous head coach Jon Embree. Four wins by first-year head coach Mike MacIntyre was actually a three-game improvement. MacIntyre has a history of rebuilding a program in a similar fashion. He took San Jose State from a one-win team to 10 wins in three seasons. While the growth at Colorado should be far more incremental, the Buffaloes will continue to improve under the current coaching staff. The team returns 16 starters, including quarterback Sefo Liufau, and has a manageable non-conference schedule. There are at least five games the Buffaloes could be considered the favorites to win. It will be up to the coaching staff and players to steal one or two more wins from Pac-12 opponents.

6. Utah (Last year: 5-7)Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham enters his 10th season with the program, and it could be his last if the Utes fall to the basement of the Pac-12 South. The problems start on the offensive side of the football. Whittingham used numerous different play-callers in recent years, but the Utes’ offense continued to sputter. Utah finished 76th overall in total offense during the 2013 campaign. Last season the defense wasn’t the team’s saving grace either. The Utes finished 60th overall in total defense. Whittingham will need key players to step up this season if the team has any hope of consistently competing in the Pac-12. Quarterback Travis Wilson has to improve after throwing 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions as a sophomore. Another 5-7 season or worse will likely signal change within the program.

The highly-anticipated matchup between two of the top running backs in college football never really materialized in Shreveport Saturday afternoon. Instead, it was the under-the-radar passing attack of Arizona (8-5) that paved the way for a resounding postseason win.

In the Wildcats’ 42-19 thumping of overmatched Boston College (7-6) in the Advocare V100 Bowl, senior quarterback B.J. Denker threw for 276 yards, accounted for three touchdown — two passing, one rushing — and, perhaps most importantly, tossed zero interceptions. With the exception of a 363-yard performance against USC in October of this year, it was the most productive passing day of Denker’s collegiate career.

Of Denker’s 276 yards, 194 of them went to wide receiver Nate Phillips. The freshman receiver accounted for more than half (nine) of Denker’s 17 completions. Both totals set career-highs for Phillips, with the yardage setting a school record for a bowl game.

Trey Griffey, the son of MLB legend Ken Griffey Jr., caught both of Denker’s touchdown passes. Those two scores were the first of Griffey’s career.

Ka’Deem Carey, who entered the game sixth in the country in rushing, was steady in a workmanlike if unspectacular effort, finishing what could be his last game at the collegiate level with 169 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Carey, who’s expected to leave the Wildcats early for the NFL, extended his streak of 100-yard rushing games to 16 in a row.

Carey’s numbers, however, were a veritable explosion compared to that of Andre Williams. The 2013 Doak Walker winner as the nation’s top running back was held to just 75 yards on 26 carries. Williams came into the game leading the FBS in rushing, averaging 175.2 yards per game.

WHY: Two elite running backs will be under the spotlight in Shreveport on Tuesday afternoon.

Ka’Deem Carey of Arizona and Heisman finalist Andre Williams of Boston College will go toe-to-toe to see who’s the best back in the country. Williams gained 2,102 yards and 17 touchdowns and led the nation in rushing. Carey was right behind him with 1,716 yards and 17 touchdowns (in one less game). Both are the centerpieces of their team’s offensive attacks and both will be the focus of the other team’s defense.

Game on, gentlemen.

The Eagles were a hot team at the end of the season, winning four of its last five, while Arizona showed its mettle by thrashing Oregon by 26. No other team played Florida State as tough as BC, which lost to the Seminoles by just 14. The Wildcats lost three games by a touchdown or less. In other words, these teams are probably a little bit better than their records indicate.

As good as the running backs are, the game should turn on the play of the quarterbacks. B.J. Denker has come on strong for the Wildcats down the stretch run. He has 2,241 passing yards and 14 touchdowns plus 898 rushing yards and 12 scores. Chase Rettig has 17 touchdown passes and just six interceptions for the Eagles. This looks like a game between two evenly-matched teams with similar strengths and vastly different styles — Arizona with its spread and BC with its pound-it-up-the-gut pro style scheme.

He’s probably got a good case to make after watching his No. 12 ASU team move to 10-2 on the season by crushing rival Arizona, 58-21, on Saturday night in Tempe.

The Sun Devils jumped out to a 27-0 lead on the Wildcats (7-5) and, except for a brief span early in the third quarter, the outcome was never in doubt from that point on.

Taylor Kelly passed for 274 yards and two touchdowns and D.J. Foster rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns to lead ASU. Receiver Jaelen Strong had a game-high 142 receiving yards and moved his season totals to 69 catches for 1,067 and seven scores, making him a strong candidate for Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year.

Arizona quarterback B.J. Denker struggled against ASU, throwing three interceptions while completing just 50 percent of his passes. He did have 87 rushing yards, adding to tailback Ka’Deem Carey’s 157 yards on 32 carries, the tailback’s 15th-straight 100-yard game.

But ASU was too much for Arizona tonight. For all the talk of Oregon and Stanford at the start of the year, UCLA in the middle and USC toward the end, it is ASU who might be the hottest team in the league right now and Graham who might be its Coach of the Year.

And we’ll know just how good this team is when it hosts No. 8 Stanford in next weekend’s Pac-12 title game.